Ameer Abdullah Fantasy Football News | Page 13

Ameer Abdullah
RB
, Las Vegas Raiders

Age: 31
Weight: 203 lbs
Height: 5' 9"
College: Nebraska

ADP:
Depth Chart Ranking: 3

Pts	RuYds	RuTD	Rec	RecYds
38.3	110	1	22	113

Week 13 Projection

Week 13 Projection
Dfs Projection

Week 13
LV
@
KC

Unlock our Projections

View full RB Projections

Salary: $
Week 13 Projection: -
Ownership: -

Salary: $
Week 13 Projection: -
Ownership: -

Salary: $
Week 13 Projection: -
Ownership: -

Left-scroll
middle-scroll
Right-scroll

Latest news

Lions Beat: Don't expect a balanced offense

ESPN

Jul 06, 2017 · 10:02 AM EDT

NFC North beat writers were asked about the Lions run game and the possibility of a balanced offense:

Rob Demovsky: In short, no, unless the return of Ameer Abdullah from the foot injury that ruined his 2016 season is a game-changer or Matt Asiata suddenly becomes something more than just the complementary piece he was in Minnesota. Otherwise, it looks a lot like the status quo for the Lions' offense, which will once again rely heavily on quarterback Matthew Stafford.

That's not a bad thing given his ability to get on a hot streak as he showed last season. The good news is he has an upgraded offensive line led by former Packers Pro Bowl guard T.J. Lang to protect him.

Related players: Theo Riddick

Fantasy Impact:

All three beat writers who write for opponents of the Lions in the NFC North seemed to agree the Lions will need to rely on Stafford again this season, and the run game's current status won't give the team balance on offense. No one thinks Abdullah is a sure thing, but if he can stay healthy he'll obviously give the run game a little boost.

Lions GM confirms Ameer Abdullah is the team's starter

ESPN

Apr 30, 2017 · 1:55 PM EDT

The Detroit Lions didn’t select a running back this weekend in the annual NFL draft, and after it was over, general manager Bob Quinn said third-year pro Ameer Abdullah will be the team’s starting running back this fall.

Abdullah missed all but one-and-a-half games in 2016 with a foot injury that required surgery. He won the starting job last season and gained 101 yards on 18 carries before hurting his foot against Tennessee.

“He is,” Quinn said, when asked directly if Abdullah was his starter.

Abdullah was fully cleared to return this past winter and believes he still has the capability to be a premier running back in the league, something he said at the end of the season. Quinn called Abdullah’s injury “a fluke thing,” and said he thinks Theo Riddick will be ready to go as well.

“I feel pretty good about the position,” Quinn said. “There were a couple running backs we looked at in the middle part of the draft but just no one we felt was going to come in and really unseat any of the guys that we have on our roster.

“So we feel good about that spot.”

Fantasy Impact:

Both Abdullah and Riddick are going in the 7th round of early MFL10 drafts, and they both represent good values at that point in the draft. Riddick's per game average of 16.2 fantasy points (PPR) was the 8th-highest at his position. Riddick may not see as many carries with Abdullah back, but he should continue to play a big role in the passing game. In the one game that Abdullah played, Riddick turned 12 touches into 108 yards and two touchdowns, so he'll be involved even with Abdullah back in the lead role.

Lions Beat: Team needs changes in run game

MLive.com

Dec 31, 2016 · 2:26 PM EST

The Lions run game is obviously nowhere close to good enough, and changes have to be made. But whether that happens in the backfield or up front is uncertain. The blocking has been inconsistent at best, and sometimes just plain bad. There's a lot to like about Taylor Decker at left tackle, and I think the Lions have a good one in Graham Glasgow. Travis Swanson showed significant improvement this year too. But with Larry Warford and Riley Reiff both set to hit free agency, the Lions could look in other directions there.

Related players: Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick

Fantasy Impact:

The story pointed out Theo Riddick just signed a three-year, $12.75 million extension that doesn't even kick in until 2017. So he's not going anywhere. As for Abdullah, the story pointed out it's too early to give up on him. He didn't sit a single game last year -- but obviously missing all last offseason like he did with the shoulder injury, then playing only two games before suffering the foot injury, is going to slow his development too. This writer also didn't seem too optimistic about Abdullah returning this year even if the Lions make a playoff run.

Lions HC Jim Caldwell calls RB Theo Riddick 'the lead guy'

ESPN

Sep 22, 2016 · 11:45 AM EDT

The Lions lost their most complete back Wednesday when Ameer Abdullah was placed on injured reserve. It leaves three backs for Detroit to use: Theo Riddick, Dwayne Washington and Zach Zenner.

Of the three, Riddick has the most experience and Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Wednesday that Riddick will be "the lead guy" in Detroit. But others will get work, too.

Zenner has shown power. Washington has a combination of size and speed. But none of them have been in a lead role before in the NFL.

To help reinforce the thought the Lions needed complete backs, Walker spent time this offseason working with Riddick -- a premier pass-catcher -- on moving his eyes to the proper position to see holes. He worked with him on how to set up defenders to make his blocks even more useful and how to see the developing creases set up by offensive linemen faster.

“When we’re sitting in the film room and we have a clicker in our hand and we can pause stuff and see things, that’s one way,” Walker said. “But guys gotta be able to make split-second decisions on the field and he’s learning where to put his eyes to help him make those split-second decisions.”

So far, Riddick has been a superior runner to what he’s done in the past. He’s averaging 4.56 yards per carry. More importantly, he looks more confident as a rusher than he ever has in the past, too. It helps that he’s being used in a variety of ways now as a runner instead of mostly as a third-down or two-minute runner, as he was in the past.

Riddick said his improved vision comes from Walker's teachings.

Fantasy Impact:

The Lions are willing to give Riddick carries this year (9.0 per game) after he averaged just 2.7 carries per game last season. The early returns are good, but a Week 1 matchup with the Colts has a lot to do with his 4.6 YPC. We expect Washington to see 8-12 touches per game, but he'll have to hold off Zach Zenner as the goal line back to have weekly fantasy value. Week 3 is shaping up to be a "Riddick game" since the Lions are expected to be playing from behind for most of the day.